PlantFiles: Wild Sweet William, Meadow Phlox
Phlox maculata

Really enjoy this plant, a nice native species that is endangered in my state (but probably "naturally rare" since it generally has a more southerly distribution). It produces copious, showy, pink and white blooms in mid-July that last a good while, as wildflowers go. Good North American alternative to Dame's Rocket.

After the flowers fall off, a small round seed capsule develops. The seeds are distributed by the wind to a limited extent. The root system consists of a taproot.

The flowers are pollinated by butterflies, skippers, and moths, which seek nectar. Among the butterflies are such visitors as various Swallowtails and Sulfurs. The caterpillars of the moth Heliothis phloxiphagus (Spotted Straw) eat the flowers, while the caterpillars of the moth Lacinipolia olivacea (Olive Arches) eat the foliage. Small Syrphid flies may eat the pollen of the flowers, but they are non-pollinating. Some plant bugs suck the juices of this and other phlox species, including Lopidea davisi (Phlox Scarlet Plant Bug) and Poecilocapsus lineatus (Four-Lined Plant Bug). Mammalian herbivores readily consume this plant, including rabbits, groundhogs, and deer.

Wild Sweet William is another lovely phlox species that is rarely observed in the wild. It can be distinguished from other species in Illinois by its purple-spotted stems and the cylindrical inflorescence. The subspecies Phlox maculata pyramidalis has an inflorescence that is somewhat wider toward the bottom than the top. It is supposed to prefer drier habitats, but is less common in Illinois. The plant in the photograph is probably a cultivar with white flowers, but it has features that are typical of the wild populations.

Meadow Phlox is native to low woods and moist meadows in the eastern United States. The plant can be naturalized or used in a perennial border. Provide a growing area with a well-drained soil and exposure to full sun, although it will tolerate part shade especially in hot climates.

This phlox is characterized by burgundy spots on the stem. It is susceptible to mildew problems, but is less affected than P. paniculata and should be more widely grown.